Trade Finance - Section Head

OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

OCBC Bank Malaysia Berhad seeks an experienced trade finance leader to head the Bills Segment. You will lead three to four Team Leads and an operational team of ~20 staff supporting OCBC Group entities, overseeing Import and Export Bills booking, financing and settlement with focus on service, controls and continuous improvement.

This role offers group-wide exposure, opportunities to shape a sizeable team and drive transformation across the organization.

Qualifications

• Experience in Import/Export Bills booking, financing and settlement.
• Strong knowledge of international payment flows and SWIFT standards.
• Proven leadership of a sizeable operations team.

Responsibilities

• Lead Team Leads and teams, fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• Oversee Import/Export Bills booking, financing and settlement operations.
• Ensure service, quality and controls across OCBC Group entities.
• Provide guidance for complex or non-standard transactions.
• Manage operational, compliance and transaction risks.
• Partner with Business, Product, Credit, Risk, Compliance, Technology and other Operations teams to resolve issues.
• Drive process simplification, standardization, automation and service improvements.

Skills

Trade finance

People leadership

AML & sanctions

Stakeholder mgmt

Cross-border payments

Education

Banking/Finance degree

Tools

SWIFT

ERP systems

Job description

As Singapore's longest established bank, we have been dedicated to enabling individuals and businesses to achieve their aspirations since 1932. How? By taking the time to truly understand people. From there, we provide support, services, solutions, and career paths that meet their individual needs and desires.

Today, we're on a journey of transformation. Leveraging technology and creativity to become a future-ready learning organisation. But for all that change, our strategic ambition is consistently clear and bold, which is to be Asia's leading financial services partner for a sustainable future.

We invite you to build the bank of the future. Innovate the way we deliver financial services. Work in friendly, supportive teams. Build lasting value in your community. Help people grow their assets, business, and investments. Take your learning as far as you can. Or simply enjoy a vibrant, future-ready career.

Your Opportunity Starts Here.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced trade finance leader to head our Bills Segment. You will lead three to four Team Leads and an operational team of approximately 20 staff supporting OCBC Group entities. The role oversees Import and Export Bills booking, financing and settlement, with responsibility for strong service delivery, sound controls, people development and continuous improvement.

Why Join This Role

This is an opportunity to lead a key trade finance function with Group-wide exposure, shape a sizeable team and contribute to service improvement and transformation across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the Team Leads and their teams, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Oversee Import and Export Bills booking, financing and settlement operations, including related transaction servicing and exception handling.
• Ensure service, quality and control standards are consistently met across supported OCBC Group entities.
• Provide guidance and escalation support for complex or non-standard transactions.
• Manage operational, compliance and transaction risks in accordance with internal policies and applicable trade and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Business, Product, Credit, Risk, Compliance, Technology and other Operations teams to resolve issues and support business needs.
• Drive process simplification, standardization, automation and service improvements.

What We Are Looking For

• Strong experience in trade finance operations, particularly Import and Export Bills booking, financing and settlement, with advanced knowledge of international payment flows and SWIFT payment standards.
• Experience in cross-border payment settlement, payment investigations, sanctions-related payment controls and correspondent banking operations will be highly advantageous.
• Proven people-leadership experience, preferably managing Team Leads, supervisors or a sizeable operations team.
• Sound understanding of relevant international trade practices and AML, sanctions and transaction-control requirements.
• Strong judgement, problem-solving and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to balance customer needs, service delivery and operational risk.
• A degree in Banking, Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline is preferred.
• Relevant trade finance certification will be an advantage.

• Proven people-leadership experience, preferably managing Team Leads, supervisors or a sizeable operations team.

• Sound understanding of relevant international trade practices and AML, sanctions and transaction-control requirements.

• Strong judgement, problem-solving and stakeholder-management skills.

• Ability to balance customer needs, service delivery and operational risk.

• A degree in Banking, Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline is preferred.

• Relevant trade finance certification will be an advantage.

What we offer:

Competitive base salary. A suite of holistic, flexible benefits to suit every lifestyle. Community initiatives. Industry-leading learning and professional development opportunities. Your wellbeing, growth and aspirations are every bit as cared for as the needs of our customers.

WHO WE ARE:

As Singapore's longest established bank, we have been dedicated to enabling individuals and businesses to achieve their aspirations since 1932. How? By taking the time to truly understand people. From there, we provide support, services, solutions, and career paths that meet their individual needs and desires.

Today, we're on a journey of transformation. Leveraging technology and creativity to become a future-ready learning organisation. But for all that change, our strategic ambition is consistently clear and bold, which is to be Asia's leading financial services partner for a sustainable future.

We invite you to build the bank of the future. Innovate the way we deliver financial services. Work in friendly, supportive teams. Build lasting value in your community. Help people grow their assets, business, and investments. Take your learning as far as you can. Or simply enjoy a vibrant, future-ready career.

Your Opportunity Starts Here.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced trade finance leader to head our Bills Segment. You will lead three to four Team Leads and an operational team of approximately 20 staff supporting OCBC Group entities. The role oversees Import and Export Bills booking, financing and settlement, with responsibility for strong service delivery, sound controls, people development and continuous improvement.

Why Join This Role

This is an opportunity to lead a key trade finance function with Group-wide exposure, shape a sizeable team and contribute to service improvement and transformation across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the Team Leads and their teams, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.